Logic dictates: Actor at one with Spock

Zachary Quinto put on Spock's Vulcan ears for a second time in "Star Trek Into Darkness." PHOTO BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES

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The relationship between Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) cools a bit in "Star Trek Into Darkness." PHOTO BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES

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Zachary Quinto. while promoting "Star Trek Into Darkness" in Sydney, Australia, last month. He said Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock, has lended friendship and support as Quinto took on the iconic role. MARIANNA MASSEY, GETTY IMAGES FOR PARAMOUNT PICTURES

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Zachary Quinto says being good friends with co-star Chris Pine, left, makes it easier to focus on the work in making "Star Trek" movies. ZADE ROSENTHAL, PARAMOUNT PICTURES

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"Star Trek Into Darkness" begins with a scene in which Spock (Zachary Quinto) is inside a fiery volcano. INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC, COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

It didn't take Vulcan logic to figure out that once director J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" reboot took in $385 million at the box office four years ago, the crew of the Enterprise would again go boldly where so many movie franchises have gone before – Planet Sequel.

Zachary Quinto (as the logical Mr. Spock) and Chris Pine (Capt. James T. Kirk) reprise their roles this weekend as they head into the final frontier at warp speed in "Star Trek Into Darkness," which features a formidable new foe (played by Benedict Cumberbatch of the BBC series "Sherlock") who might turn out to be a formidable old foe.

Quinto, 35, was a TV actor ("Heroes," "24") before he put on a pair of pointy ears and launched his film career with "Star Trek" in 2009.

In a phone call from London, he explained how the original Spock (Leonard Nimoy) helped him win over skeptical Trekkers, what it was like inside the fiery volcano in the new film's opening scene and why "Star Trek" still matters nearly a half-century after NBC canceled it after three seasons.

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER:Obviously, by the second film, you've nailed the role, but I was wondering what your process was in getting into the character in the first place.

ZACHARY QUINTO: It had a lot to do with cultivating inner stillness and creating space inside to allow emotion to exist without expression. I liken it to holding two ends of a string, and never being able to let one go. In the first film, there was a kind of patience involved that informed the duality and conflict that the character was grappling with. In this film, it's more about him accepting his humanity. There is a little more room for flexibility and a little more room for emotion.

Q.Did you have an opportunity to speak with Leonard Nimoy before the first film started?

A. Absolutely. He was in the first movie. We worked very closely together and I was so grateful for that. Subsequently, we have become very close friends and he is a very important person in my life. We have had many conversations about the character and about his relationship to it. But he always stopped short of him giving me any specific guidance or advice because he was very interested in my interpretation of the character.

Q.I know the year you were born, so I know you didn't grow up a "Star Trek" fan.

A. An excellent assumption.

Q. In fact, I don't even think you are old enough to have been a "Star Wars" fan.

A. No, that's not right. I was born the year "Star Wars" came out, and it helped to shape my childhood. I was a huge "Star Wars" fan when I was growing up – "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" in particular. By then, I was old enough to appreciate those films.

Q.Before you played Spock and got involved in this franchise, what did you think of "Star Trek"?

A. I couldn't really see past the production values. What I didn't understand then, but understand now, was what a visionary ("Star Trek" creator) Gene Roddenberry was, and how he was reflecting back at the audience issues and topics of social relevance that people weren't able to talk about then. By creating this world, he was able to allegorically draw parallels to hot-button issues of the time. At the core of his vision was a deeply rooted faith in humanity, an optimism and an accepting of differences. I think that's why the franchise has endured. I feel grateful to be part of that legacy.

Q.Do you get approached by geeks?

A. Oh, yeah. I am very clear in how I live my life and what the boundaries are, but I never feel intruded upon. But some fans do get very excited. (Laughs)

Q.Do you get a sense that Trekkers have embraced you?

A. I do. I feel great support.

Q.That's a big thing. These Trekkers are tough.

A. It is a big thing. I think it has a lot to do with Leonard's endorsement, which I had from the very beginning. He was there with me at Comic-Con in 2007 when they announced that I would be playing Spock. Being by my side gave the audience a reason to embrace me.

Q.Although playing Spock has been a tremendous boost to your career, has it also been a double-edged sword to play such an iconic character?

A. I approached it as an actor getting a great role and an opportunity to work with one of the premier directors of our time. Beyond that, I offset any possible negative aspects by creating a production company to expand my experience and provide me with many more opportunities as an actor. I don't want to stand around and wait for people to tell me what I'm allowed to do. I saw the potential downside for playing such an iconic role, and I didn't want that to limit me.

Q.It is likely that our readers will not have seen "Star Trek Into Darkness" when they read this interview, but let us assure them that it opens with a spectacular set piece that ends with you standing alone in a volcano. Could you describe what you as an actor had to go through to do that scene?

A. First of all, I had to spend about 25 minutes to get into that costume, which weighed about 65 pounds. It was very cumbersome, and I couldn't get out once I was in it. It was physically challenging, but it allowed me to get into the character's meditative state. The set for the volcano was built outside at a huge production facility in Playa del Rey. At the center of it was this small island of lava rock that Spock lands on in the middle of the volcano. Around it were flamethrowers and ember machines that were spewing towers of fire around me. Once they cranked up the machines, everyone would leave and I would be standing there alone.

Q.What were you thinking at that moment?

A. I was thinking that I couldn't believe that I was pretending that I was in the middle of a volcano and realizing a childhood dream. It was a pretty remarkable moment.

Q.At that moment, do you throw caution to the wind and not worry about your own safety?

A. On a movie like this, at this level of execution, I feel well-supported. I'm always aware of my safety and surroundings, but I never felt a sense of danger on this film. These people know what they're doing.

Q. Were you physically uncomfortable in that scene?

A. Sure, but that helped to inform the performance. Spock would be physically uncomfortable in the middle of a volcano. As an actor, it was an interesting journey.

Q.This is a film about friendship. Is it possible to fake it onscreen if you really don't like the actor who is playing your friend?

A. (Laughs) I'd like to think that I'm a good enough actor that I could fake it, but it's not preferable. The fact that Chris and I are such good friends makes it so much easier to embody these characters. We don't have to waste time with the formalities; we can go right to the work. There's a shorthand that we have at this point so we know what each other needs in a scene.

Q.Would I be wrong in making the leap that the plot of this new film has some relevance in the 2lst century?

A. You wouldn't be wrong, and that is something that is a touchstone with "Star Trek." Whether it's civil rights and interracial relationships in the 1960s, or the subject of terrorism today, "Star Trek" has always reflected its times. As much as we see this movie as popcorn summer entertainment, people go to movies that they can relate to, and this movie unfortunately reflects its times.

Q. This film is about terrorism, and I was wondering if the Boston Marathon bombings caused you any pause in leading up to the film's opening.

A. We had finished the movie long before the bombings, but the enormity of it was staggering. To see the immediate reflection of our themes in what was happening in Boston was unsettling and horrific on so many levels. It resonated with all of us.

Q.One final question, have you ever been, or would you ever consider going, to a "Star Trek" convention?

A. I went to two "Star Trek" conventions early on, but I went with Leonard.

Q. I must admit I'm a little surprised that you went.

A. "Star Trek" conventions afford us all a kind of job security that even the most successful actors in Hollywood don't have. You never know in this business when and if the tide will turn and work might not be as abundant, so it's a wonderful safety net to be part of something this big. And it can be very lucrative. I probably won't go to all the "Star Trek" conventions I've been invited to, but you never know.

Q. Are you familiar with William Shatner's classic rant on "Saturday Night Live" that mocked the fans of this franchise?

A. Of course. It was hilarious.

Q.Do you, like Shatner, question why these fans are so obsessed?

A. It all comes back to Gene Roddenberry. He created something that is so powerful and sustaining that I can understand it. I don't share that level of obsession with anything in my life, but I do understand why they feel that way. I respect that level of commitment.

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